Baby Safety / Compounds / β-HCH (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane)

Is β-HCH (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane) safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants are vulnerable to β-HCH (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane) through inhalation of volatile residues in household products. Immature blood-brain barrier and higher respiratory rate per body weight amplify CNS exposure.

What is β-hch (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane)?

The IUPAC name is 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane.

Also known as: 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane, Hexachlorocyclohexane, Hexachlorzyklohexan, DTXCID30687.

IUPAC name
1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane
CAS number
319-85-7
Molecular formula
C6H6Cl6
Molecular weight
290.8 g/mol
SMILES
C1(C(C(C(C(C1Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl
PubChem CID
727

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants are vulnerable to β-HCH (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane) through inhalation of volatile residues in household products. Immature blood-brain barrier and higher respiratory rate per body weight amplify CNS exposure.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

High risk

Occupational and household exposure to β-HCH (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane) during pregnancy is associated with developmental toxicity. Solvents readily cross the placenta and can cause fetal growth restriction.

Known reproductive toxicant (GHS H360) or confirmed endocrine disruptor. Placental transfer is presumed. Fetal exposure during critical developmental windows may cause structural malformations, growth restriction, or functional deficits.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified β-HCH (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC1987Group 2B
US EPA2008likely human carcinogen
EPA CTX / IRIS—C (Possible human carcinogen)

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter β-hch (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane)

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to β-HCH (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane):

  • Water-based systems; Bio-based solvents (ethyl lactate); Supercritical CO2
    Trade-offs: Alternative solvent or process chemistry; solvency parameters (Hansen solubility, Kb value) must be matched to application; VOC content and flammability may differ; worker exposure assessment needed.
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

Is β-hch (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane) safe for kids?

Infants are vulnerable to β-HCH (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane) through inhalation of volatile residues in household products. Immature blood-brain barrier and higher respiratory rate per body weight amplify CNS exposure.

What products contain β-hch (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane)?

β-HCH (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to β-hch (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane)?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Why do regulators disagree about β-hch (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane)?

β-HCH (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane) has been classified by 3 agencies including IARC, US EPA, EPA CTX / IRIS, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.

See β-HCH (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane) in the baby app

Look up products containing β-hch (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (3)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 41 / Supplement 7: β-HCH — Group 2B; animal carcinogenicity data; classified alongside α-HCH and γ-HCH isomers (1987) — iarc_monograph
  2. Stockholm Convention COP4: α-HCH and β-HCH Added to Annex A (Elimination) — HCH Waste Disposal Legacy, Breast Milk Monitoring, Global Persistence Data (2009) — regulatory
  3. WHO/UNEP Global Survey on Persistent Organic Pollutants in Human Milk — β-HCH as Dominant HCH Isomer in Breast Milk; South and East Asian Exposure Patterns; Declining Trends in Developed Countries (2007) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →